How Parkinson’s Disease Affects Families

By Jennifer Satery, 9:00 am on June 26, 2019

When seniors are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, the diagnosis can also impact their families and friends. The disease can bring families closer together, but it can also lead to emotional and mental burdens. Learns how Parkinson’s disease affects the whole family.

Impacts Emotions

Watching the disease progress and cause physical and mental problems for an aging loved one can be stressful on families. The increased tremors and slow movements that prevent your loved one from performing everyday activities can be challenging to witness. However, your family needs to find ways to manage the emotional impact, such as going to Parkinson’s support groups for families. Speaking with people who have gone through similar situations could be therapeutic and help you come to terms with your new reality.

At some point, your loved one may get a great deal of benefit from having a professional caregiver help with everyday tasks. Families looking for top-rated homecare providerscan reach out to Home Care Assistance. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.

Decreases Socialization

Lack of leisure time can increase the risk of isolation among family caregivers, especially in the later stages of the disease. With end-stage Parkinson’s, the symptoms become debilitating, and in many cases, seniors are in wheelchairs or bedridden. Working a full-time job and providing constant care to your loved one could cause you to miss out on leisure opportunities, leading to a decrease in socialization. Your family needs to develop schedules that allow you all to provide adequate care to your loved one while also being able to practice self-care, which includes participating in hobbies and social outings with friends.

Creates Financial Burdens

One of the top strains on families is the financial responsibilities they take on to provide high-quality care for their loved ones. The costs associated with hiring caregivers, paying for treatments, and arranging transportation to appointments can be expensive, especially if their loved ones’ insurance doesn’t cover those expenses. Home improvements may also be necessary, depending on your loved one’s needs. For instance, your family may need to install ramps, add stair lifts, raise toilet seats, and replace bathtubs with walk-in showers, which can be costly. Another financial burden families often incur is the need to provide care without receiving compensation. Dedicating time to care for your loved one could require you to decrease the number of hours you work at your job. The reduced income could lead to more financial burdens.

Many seniors in the later stages of Parkinson’s can continue to live at home, but they will likely need assistance from a family member or other caregiver to do so safely. For many seniors in Dallas, live-in care is an essential component of aging in place safely and comfortably. However, it’s important for them to have caregivers they can trust and rely on. At Home Care Assistance, we extensively screen all of our live-in and 24-hour caregivers and only hire those who have experience in the senior home care industry. Our strict requirements ensure seniors can remain in the comfort of home with a reduced risk of injury or serious illness.

Strengthens Family Bonds

The impact of Parkinson’s on a family isn’t always negative. In fact, the positive side is that it can strengthen the relationships you have with your parent and other family members. Coming together to boost your loved one’s quality of life could provide your family with peace and help you all grow closer. Sharing caregiving responsibilities requires you, your siblings, and other individuals to spend more time communicating with each other, strengthening your bonds. Your family will face the challenges together and rely on each other for support when things become overwhelming.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be difficult to manage, and family caregivers can easily get overwhelmed. If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional elderly care, Dallas Home Care Assistance should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults manage their health and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years. Call us at (214) 363-3400 today to talk to one of our compassionate Care Managers about our high-quality Parkinson’s home care services.